Company wants to build housing for elderly on former Brunswick school, bus yard site

Developer would apply for tax credits to build housing for low income elderly

Terry.Dickson@jacksonville.com - 12/30/13 - The old Perry Elementary School building was razed in late December and early January and now a company wants to build affordable housing on the vacant lot. (Florida Times-Union, Terry Dickson)

BRUNSWICK | An Atlanta development group is proposing to build affordable housing for seniors on city property that formerly held an elementary school and bus yard.

Jon Toppen, representing Tapestry Development Group, told city commissioners Wednesday that he needs their support to proceed with the project, which would be financed largely through a federal tax credit program.

“We need to present this as a city-led initiative,” he said.

He needs quick approval from the city in order to meet the June deadline for applying for the federal Low Income Tax Credit Program which is administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

“The deadline is June 5,” he said, “and it’s not flexible.”

Teaming up with the Humanities Foundation of Charleston, S.C.,Tapestry would build the project on a site on Stonewall Street that was formerly occupied by Perry Elementary School and the Glynn County school system bus yard. In its later years, the elementary school building housed some system administrative offices, adult education and a literacy program.

The housing project would serve low-income seniors, such as those who subsist solely on their monthly Social Security checks, he said.

“We will have onsite services and it’s independent living,” he said. “They can remain as long as they’re able to.”

The development would be similar to another one in the city built on a former school site. Norwich Commons near the northern city limit is in the final stages of construction. The $8 million project, also financed through tax credits, will offer 52 units of affordable housing to workers with moderate incomes.

Norwich Commons developer W.H. Gross received its tax credit grant two years ago.

“We have the same financial infrastructure,” Toppen said.

Toppen said the city would have to be willing to give his company the land on very favorable terms, such as a long-term lease for $1 a year.

The city also would have to ensure that infrastructure such as utilities, sidewalks and roads were up to standards, he said.

Toppen asked commissioners to reach a decision by their March 19 meeting because his company has a lot of work to do to prepare its grant application.

“This is very competitive,” he said. “We could try again next year if we’re not approved.”

Mayor Cornell Harvey promised Toppen only that the city would consider his proposal and get back to him.